Sealed container for bottles



April 26, 1938. 'H. H. LURSSEN SEALED 'CONiAINER FOR BOTTLES Filed June 14, 1937 HERMAN H-L.UHSSEN Patented Apr. 26, 1938v UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE Herman H. Lurssen, Baltimore, Md., assignor of one-half to Milton M. Caplan, Baltimore, Md.

Application June 14, 1937, Serial No. 148,147

6 Claims.

This invention relates to improvements in sealed containers for bottles and, more particularly, contemplates a sealed carton adapted to hold and contain bottles, such as bottles of medi- 5 cine, and the like, wherein the carton comprises a construction by which a bottle and its contents may be inspected without removal from the carton, and, if desired, may be utilized as a shipping or mailing container for the bottle. I

10 In order to preserve the purity and integrity of merchandise which is sold in bottles, it is now the common practice to package the bottle in a container which is sealed such that access to the bottle or its contents may be had only by destruc- ..l5 tion or mutilation of the container. By this means a customer is assured of the true quality and genuineness of the goods, and acts of tampering with genuine goods are discouraged since a purchaser about to buy may readily perceive 1& when a package has been tampered with and accordingly will reject the article offered in the mutilated carton and insist on delivery of the merchandise in a perfect package.

However, the use of such containers for bottled 12 goods in some respects involves a commercial drawback in that the bottles usually are so completely housed within the containers that the label on the bottle and its contents are not readily visible. A customer generally desires to inl 30 spect the label on a bottle and most often wishes to examine the contents to compare the color with what he knows is the color of the genuine article. For example, in the sale of whiskey, there are many spurious products on the market 35 which are packaged in sealed. containers and carry catch names or unknown brands whereupon a cautious purchaser will be prompted to ask per mission to remove the sealed container for the purpose of inspecting the label on the bottle and 40 the color of its contents. Of course if the purchaser buys the article after the container has been removed no harm is done. But it is often the case that the customer will change his mind and select some other product whereupon the 45 dealer is left with a bottle of goods which is difficult to sell due to the fact that the sealed container has been removed or mutilated.

In another respect, it is often desired that bottled goods, such as medicine, be mailed in the 1,50 sealed carton whereupon it is usually necessary that such goods be separately wrapped in a package adapted to withstand handling in the mail. The instant invention provides a sealed package construction for a bottle embodying a. carton pro vided with means permitting the bottle and its contents to be viewed while sealed in the carton and also provides in itself a sealed container which is admirably suited for use as mailing receptacle and in which the bottle is fully protected against possible damage in ordinary shipping and 5 handling.

A further object of the invention is to provide a sealed package for a bottle comprising a container securely housing the bottle against removal therefrom and provided with substantial window means which may be closed for protecting the bottle in shipping and handling, but which is capable of adjustment to open position to afford access to a portion of the bottle such that the contents and the label thereon may be. 15 exposed for display purposes and/or inspection by a customer without removal from the carton.

A still further object is to provide in such a sealed package construction in which a bottle and its contents may be viewed without removal from the package, a container which is sealed throughout to be substantially air-tight such that the bottle and its contents are protected against dust, germs and shelf-age.

Another object is to provide for use in such sealed packages, cartons which are simple in character, inexpensive in manufacture and of such construction that the bottles may be applied and encased therein without involving any material increase in cost.

Further objects and advantages of the inventicn will be apparent to those skilled in the art as a description thereof proceeds with reference to the accompanying drawing in which like reference characters designate like parts throughout the same, and in which:

Fig. 1 is a perspective view showing the improved sealed container for bottles constructed in accordance with the present invention, the means in the container for displaying the bottle and its contents being shown in open position.

Fig. 2 is a similar perspective view with the means for displaying the bottle and its contents shown in closed position whereby the container may be utilized as a mailing receptacle or for A5 protecting the bottles in shipping and handling.

Fig. 3 is a fragmentary perspective view of the improved sealed container with. a section taken along line 3-3 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 4 is a side elevation of Fig. 1 with the sleeve closure member of the displaying means shown in section.

Fig. 5 is a fragmentary perspective view of the container taken on section line 5-5 of Fig. 2.

Fig. 6 is a perspective of a modified construction embodying an air-tight container, parts of the covering for the display opening being broken away to show its application in the container structure.

In carrying out the invention, a substantially tubular body member having preferably a cylindrical shape is provided with sections closing the ends thereof to form a container according to the size of the bottle to be encased therein. Intermediate the ends of the tube an opening is provided to correspond with the opening in a sleeve member telescoped over the tube and movable around the circumference of the tube between the end sections. In a completed container, the end sections retain the sleeve member in applied longitudinal position on the tube and at the same time permit relative movement of the said sleeve and tube members such that in one position, the corresponding openings therein may be aligned in order that the bottle and its contents may be viewed, and, in another position the bottle may be completely covered by the container to be fully protected from breakage in shipping or handling. In this relation the opening in the sleeve member may be disposed over an imperforate portion of the tube which may be employed for addressing the package in mailing or for applying printed characters or other matter that may be desired for advertising purposes, etc.

Referring to the drawing, Fig. 1 shows the completed container with a bottle encased therein, the opening in the sleeve member being aligned with that in the tube in order that the bottle, the label thereon, and its contents may be viewed Without removal therefrom. The container comprises an inner tubular member I, preferably cylindrical in form, and having open ends and a window opening II of any desired shape provided intermediate the ends in a side wall thereof. Telescoped over the tube and disposed substantially at the mid-portion thereof, is a closure sleeve member 2 provided with an opening I2 corresponding to the opening II in the tube member I. At either end of the tube member, sections 3, 4 serving as end closures and designed to snugly fit the tube member, are glued or otherwise secured permanently in position thereon. Thus, the inner peripheral edges of the end sections 3, 4, present shoulders retaining the sleeve member 2 in assembled longitudinal position on the tube, and between which the sleeve member is rotatable about the circumference of the tube for a purpose hereinafter more fully set forth. The end sections 3, 4 may be of any suitable shape and form and may comprise a single section of cardboard deformed into a substantial cup-shape designed to closely fit the associated tube end. In Fig. 6, a preferred construction of the end sections 3, 4, is shown embodying tubular members of slightly greater cross-section than that of the tube body member I and to which metallic heads or closure plates 5, 6 are attached by spinning as illustrated at I, 8, or by any other suitable means by which the metallic heads may be permanently and rigidly secured to the said tubular end sections.

Since the body member or tube I, of a container is initially open at its ends a bottle 2| may be introduced through one of such ends whereupon the sleeve 2, assembled thereon, is retained by the end sections 3, 4 applied to the open ends of the tube and permanently secured thereto as by gluing or other suitable means to complete the package. In another procedure, a tube member may be fitted with a sleeve and an end section secured to one open end whereupon the bottle maybe inserted into the container from the opposite end and the associated end section rigidly secured to the tube to complete the package.

In either method of fabricating the container with the bottle encased therein, a carton construction is provided in which the sleeve member 2 is rotatable about the circumference of body or tube member I, intermediate the end sections 3, 4 as indicated by the arrows in Figs. 1 and 2. Thus, the sleeve member 2 may be moved relative to the tube member I to the position of Fig. 1 such that the corresponding openings II, I2, therein are substantially in line to provide an effective window through which the bottle 2| and the label thereon is exposed to View and may be utilized for display purposes. Since the bottle naturally is encased within the container with a slight overall clearance, a purchaser desirous of inspecting the contents, may readily move the bottle within the container such that portions thereof other than the label are disposed in line with the window openings I I, I2, whereupon the contents may be inspected as to color and other ingredients and characteristics.

When it is desired that the bottle be completely covered by the container for protection in shipping and handling, it is only necessary to move the sleeve member 2, relative to the tube I, from open or display position illustrated in Figs. 1 and 4 to. closed position represented in Figs. 2 and 5. The bottle is then completely housed within the container such that no portions thereof are exposed to accidental contact with a foreign object and danger of jostling against the bottle of another package resulting in objectionable loss due to breakage is prevented.

In this relation, the opening I2 of the sleeve member 2, being disposed over an; imperforate wall surface I3 of the tube I, such imperforate wall surface may be utilized for addressing purposes as indicated in Figs. 2 and 5 whereupon the container is readily adapted for use as a mailing receptacle for the bottle Without necessitating removal from the sealed package or requiring additional packaging or wrapping. However, when used as a mailing carton, due to frequent handling, it has been found expedient. to apply a gummed strip or other suitable means lapping the sleeve and adjacent end sections to prevent possible movement of the sleeve to a position in which the inscribed address on the wall surface I3 of the tube member is hidden from view.

Of course, the imperforate wall surface of the tube or body member I, may be provided with a separate label or printed characters indicating the contents thereof, the manufacture, etc, or any other matter that may be desired for advertising purposes or otherwise. It is also obvious that the inner tube member I need not be continuous and may comprise spaced longitudinal sections so long as a substantially rigid body member is provided, and which, together with the end sections 3, 4, completely encases the bottle such that it may not be removed except by destroying or distinctly mutilating the completed carton. In this respect, it is noteworthy that the tube member I may be provided, if desired, with a plurality of openings I I so arranged as to be covered in closed position by complementarily arranged imperforate surfaces on the associated sleeve member 2.

In use, in one method of quantity production, bottles filled with their contents at a legitimate source and under proper bottling authority are inreference to Figs. 1-5 inclusive.

*troduced through an open end of the container tube member I having a sleeve member 2 assembled thereon, the opposite end of the tubebeing already closed by an end section 3, 4, per- -mancntly secured to the tube member."

The open end of the tube is then sealed by having applied thereto an end section which is glued or otherwise permanently secured thereon whereupon the sleeve member 2 is retained in desired longitudinal position on the tube 1, but is capable of relative rotary movement thereon from its closed position for shipping and handling, shown packed in ordinary cases ready for shipment without additional wrapping,- cushioning pads, 'excelsior, and the like, so necessary in shipping other similar forms of packages without breakage. l i i 1 When received by the dealer, the packages may then be readily removed from the packing cases and the sleeve member-won each suitably adjusted to desired position for displaypurposes. The label on the bottle is thusexposed and a customer or Government inspector desirous of examining the label to determine its authenticity may readily do so without in any way deforming, mutilating or otherwise injuring the carton. In like manner, when a package of the goods is sold, the purchaser is assured of the genuineness of the article and the purity and integrity of the contents, since any destruction of the container will immediately indicate an act of tampering which will cause him to reject the goods. If a purchaser wishes to mail the goods, the dealer is not required to wrap the package and. need only adjust the sleeve opening l2 over the wall surface I3, Figs. 2 and 4, whereupon the name of the addressee may be inscribed and the package mailed in the usual manner.

Certain goods, such as bottled medicine, require an air-tight container to prevent possible contamination of the contents by dust or germs, or other unhealthy condition due to frequent handling and inspection by customers before the merchandise is sold to the ultimate consumer. In the modification represented in Fig. 6, the container comprises a tube body member I, having a sleeve 2' retained thereon by permanently applied end sections 3', 4', provided with metallic head closures 5, 6 substantially similar to theconstruction of the preferred form described with Since the container is completely closed at its ends and is open only at the aligned window openings H, !2', for display purposes, the carton may be constructed substantially airtight, dust-proof and germ-proof by the use of a sheet 9 of transparent material such as glassine or cellophane of sufficient size to cover and lap the peripheral edges of the opening ll provided in the tube member l. The lapped edges of the transparent sheet 9 are preferably glued to the tube member preparatory to application of the sleeve member 2' thereon, and since it is of relatively thin texture, the relative movement and function of the sleeve on the tube is not in any way encumbered and operation and use of this form of the container is identical to that of the preferred form described above. This form of the device is also advantageous in that, being substantially airtight, noticeable efiects of shelf-age on the label and bottle stopper are prevented and dust and other-foreign matter cannot possibly enter the interior of the container. w i 1 i While this invention hasbeen described in detail with specific examples such examples-are illustrative only, since-it will'be apparent to those skilled-in the art that other modifications within the spirit and scope of theinvention may be constructed without departing from. the teachings or essential characteristics thereof The present embodiment is therefore to be considered yg in allrespects as illustrative and not restrictive, the scope of the invention being indicated by the appended claims rather than by the foregoing description, and all changeswhich come-within the meaning. and range of equivalency of the 3;" 'claims are therefore intended to be embraced therein. i t a What'is claimed and desired to be secured by United States Letters Patent is:

1. A combinedshipping and display for a bottle embodying a carton comprising a generally cylindrical wall memberand end sections permanently attached thereto encasing the bottle so as to prevent removal thereof without destruction of thecarton, a display opening in said wall member, and a second wall member relatively rotatable with respect to said first wall member and provided with an opening adapted to be aligned with the opening in said first wall member in order that a portion of the bottle, the label thereon and its contents may be viewed without removal from the container.

2. A combined shipping and display package for an article of relatively large bulk substantially filling the package, comprising a generally cylindrical Wall member and end sections permanently attached thereto encasing the article so as to prevent removal thereof Without destruction of the package, a display opening in said wall member and a closure member relatively rotatable on said wall member and provided with an opening adapted in one position, to be aligned with the opening in the wall member to expose a portion of the article for display purposes, or in another position, to be adjusted over a surface of the wall member such that the article is completely enclosed for protection in shipping and handling, the latter adjustment also permitting use of the container as a sealed mailing receptacle.

3. A combined shipping and display package forv a bottle embodying a carton comprising a generally cylindrical wall member and end sections permanently attached thereto encasing the bottle so as to prevent removal thereof without destruction of the carton, an opening in said wall member, and a rotatable closure member retained in position on said wall member by the end sections and provided with an opening adapted in one position, to be adjusted to alignment with the opening in the wall member to expose a portion of the bottle for display purposes, or in another position, to be disposed over a surface of the wall member to completely enclose the bottle for protection in shipping and handling, the latter adjustment also permitting use of the container as a sealed mailing receptacle.

4. A combined shipping and display package for an article of relatively large bulk substantially filling the package, comprising a cylindrical wall member and end. sections permanently attached thereto encasing the article so as to prevent removal thereof without destruction of the package, a display opening in said wall member, and a cylindrical closure member telescoped on said wall member to be rotatable with respect package e10 thereto, said closure member having an opening adapted to be rotated to alignment with the opening in the wall member to expose a portion of the article for display purposes, or to a position overlying a surface of the wall member in order that the article be completely enclosed for protection in shipping and handling, the latter adjustment also permitting use of the container as a sealed mailing receptacle.

5. A combined shipping and display package for a bottle embodying a carton comprising a substantially cylindrical wall member and end sections permanently attached thereto encasing the bottle so as to prevent removal thereof without destruction of the carton, a display opening in said wall member, and a cylindrical closure member telescoped on said wall member and retained in longitudinal position thereon by said end sections, said closure member being rotatable with respect to said wall member and having an opening adapted to be rotated to alignment with the opening in the wall member to expose a portion of the bottle for display purposes, or to a position overlying a surface of the wall member to completely enclose the bottle for protection in shipping and handling, the latter adjustment also permitting use of the container as a sealed mailing receptacle.

6. A sealed substantially air-tight, combined shipping and display package for a bottle embodying a carton comprising a substantially cylindrical wall member and end sections permanently attached thereto encasing the bottle so as to prevent removal thereof without destruction of the carton, an opening in said wall member, a sheet of transparent material disposed over said opening, and a cylindrical closure member telescoped on said wall member and retained in longitudinal position thereon by said end sections, said closure member being rotatable with respect to said wall member and having an opening adapted to be rotated to align ment with the opening in the wall member to expose a portion of the bottle through the sheet of transparent material for display purposes, or to a position overlying a surface of the wall member to completely enclose the bottle for protection in shipping and handling, the latter adjustment also permitting use of the container as a sealed mailing receptacle.

HERMAN H. LURSSEN. 

